Naomi Osaka overcame a mid-match slump and a late opponent change to defeat Viktorija Golubic 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia Wednesday. The win extends Osaka's clay-court winning streak to seven matches, following a recent title at a WTA 125 event in Saint Malo, France.
Originally scheduled to face No. 9 seed Paula Badosa, Osaka learned just 30 minutes before taking the court that Badosa had withdrawn due to injury. She instead played Golubic, a lucky loser with a style markedly different from Badosa's. Osaka noted the quick adjustment required.Golubic's mix of slices and one-handed backhands disrupted Osaka's rhythm for nearly two sets. Golubic served for the match at 5-4 in the second set after building a significant lead in the first set and breaking Osaka twice in the second.
With her back against the wall, Osaka shifted her approach. She broke Golubic immediately and then sustained a higher level of play, reeling off eight consecutive games to take control of the final set and secure the victory.
The victory continues momentum built at the lower-tier tournament in Saint Malo. Osaka and her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, elected to drop down to the WTA 125 event after a first-round exit at the Madrid Open, seeking consistent match play to address issues in competition.
Mouratoglou called the decision "risky" but necessary to solve problems encountered in matches. Osaka said she simply wanted to focus on tennis and gain clay experience, regardless of the tournament level or court assignment.
Her decision to play the Saint Malo event drew notice from other players. Maria Sakkari, also competing in Rome, expressed increased respect for Osaka's humility in seeking competition at a lower level to find her form.
Osaka acknowledged battling thoughts of heading home to Los Angeles during tough moments in matches, including against Diane Parry in Saint Malo and Wednesday against Golubic. She highlighted the importance of communicating her feelings to her coach to work through challenges.
She will next face either No. 18 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia or Marie Bouzkova for a spot in the round of 16.
"As a tennis player, as a tennis person, I care so much about winning that I don’t see the full picture sometimes," Osaka said after her first-round win in Rome.
